For the first time in Africa, and only the second time in the entire world, a groundbreaking medical procedure has been successfully carried out in Ethiopia.

A baby who was losing blood repeatedly while still in the mother’s womb has been safely brought into this world — healthy and full of life.

Senait Tamrat had previously lost a baby due to a severe complication caused by Rh incompatibility. When she became pregnant again, the 28-year-old mother, who had been attending regular checkups at a local health center, was overwhelmed with anxiety, fearing she might once again lose her unborn child.

At 21 weeks of pregnancy, after her latest examination, Senait was referred to the Abebech Gobena Mother and Child Health Center for specialized care.

Tests at the center revealed that her unborn baby was suffering from severe anemia due to the same Rh incompatibility condition that had caused her earlier loss.

Knowing her painful history and the danger to her unborn child, the team of specialist doctors at the center began an urgent discussion on possible solutions. The situation was particularly challenging — the fetus was only 21 weeks old, and any form of medical intervention would be extremely risky.

Despite the tiny and delicate size of the baby’s blood vessels, the medical team determined that a blood transfusion inside the womb was the only chance to save the baby’s life.

The first intrauterine blood transfusion was carried out with utmost precision and care. Afterwards, Senait continued her pregnancy under strict medical supervision, visiting the hospital twice a week for follow-up care.

As weeks passed, the fetus showed encouraging signs of growth and recovery. The transfusions continued, and the baby received blood a total of ten times while still inside the womb.

Finally, when the time for delivery arrived, Senait gave birth by cesarean section to a healthy baby weighing 3.5 kilograms. Mother and child are now doing well.

This remarkable case, recorded at Abebech Gobena Mother and Child Health Center under the Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, marks the second successful intrauterine blood transfusion of this kind in the world, and the first ever in Africa.

The first such case was reported in Brazil — but in Ethiopia, this has now been achieved for the first time in a 21-week-old fetus, receiving 10 intrauterine blood transfusions and being born safely.

In Ethiopia, intrauterine transfusions are typically performed at St. Paul’s Hospital, Tikur Anbessa Hospital, and Yekatit 12 Hospital — usually for fetuses older than 30 weeks. Performing this life-saving procedure at just 21 weeks gestation makes this achievement an extraordinary milestone in African medical history.

Today, both Senait and her baby are in excellent health, a living testament to the power of medical innovation, teamwork, and a mother’s unyielding hope.